F.E. Madill Boys reclaim Dinning Cup - May 2, 2019

BY DENNY SCOTT

After taking a trip to the west coast last year, the Matthew Dinning Memorial Cup made its way back to Wingham during the 13th annual tournament last week.

The tournament is held in honour of Corporal Dinning who was killed in action in Gumbad, Afghanistan on April 22, 2006, 13 years to the day before this year’s tournament was held. Last year, a team from Earl Marriott Secondary School, visiting from British Columbia, captured the cup.

F.E. Madill School’s Junior Boys rugby team posted a 19-0 victory over St. Michael’s Catholic Secondary School from Stratford to clinch the trophy in a very rough game which saw four yellow cards and one red card handed out.

The score doesn’t tell the whole story of the match as, after earning their first points early, the Madill team spent most of the rest of the first half fighting yards away from their own goal line, barely escaping the half with the lead.

“It was exciting for sure,” coach Lee Ann McDonald said. “We’re happy to have the trophy back in Wingham.”

She said that sentiment is shared by Lincoln and Laurie Dinning, Matthew’s parents. 

The win was Madill’s third of the day as they topped Saugeen District Secondary School in the first match of the tournament 10-7, then beat Kitchener Collegiate Institute’s (KCI) ‘A’ squad 10-0.

KCI, in the school’s first appearance at the tournament, had split their players in half to form two squads, with KCI A bouncing back after their loss to Madill to win the consolation game by besting St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School in a one-sided 30-5 victory.

MacDonald said Madill showed promise throughout the tournament after not faring as well at the Blackswans Invitational on April 18 in Stratford.

“We had two games in that tournament and we lost both, but it was a big learning curve,” she said, explaining that some of the rookies on her team were seeing a competitive rugby game for the first time when in Stratford. “There was a big improvement at the Dinning tournament, and the players were getting better every game.”

The win was a good note on which to start the regular rugby season, McDonald said, explaining that two days after the tournament, on April 26, Madill’s squads, including the Junior Boys, Senior Boys and Girls teams, were set to take on St. Michael’s again.

“I’m sure they were looking for a win,” she said. “There will be some tight competition for the season.”

Madill player Lane Edgar won the MVP plaque for the tournament and the championship plaque was presented to Madill’s captain, Spencer Logan.